A conservatory is a great way to add extra living space, and value to your home. With a conservatory, you can create a modern and stylish environment that can be used for whatever you choose – from a music room or craft studio to a family TV room or quiet reading area – the only limitation is your imagination!
And modern conservatories aren’t cold, damp dwelling bolt-ons anymore. Modern building techniques and designs, plus much more energy-efficient insulation and materials all help to add an extra living space that can be a warm sun trap all year round.
Different Types of Conservatory to Suit Your Needs
There are various modern conservatory styles and sizes to suit different lifestyles. Additionally, you may use materials and combinations from a variety of sources to fulfil your needs.
Garden Room
A garden room is a beautiful and stylish way to add extra living space to your home. Garden rooms are usually made with glass walls and a solid roof, making them the perfect place to enjoy your garden.
Victorian Conservatory
This is one of the most popular modern conservatory styles. Their ornate details and elegant design characterise the Victorian era.
Edwardian Conservatory
Similar to Victorian conservatories, Edwardian conservatories are characterised by their more simple design with cleaner lines. This is therefore a great choice if you want the classic look of a Victorian conservatory but without so much of the added fuss.
Lean-To Conservatory
Lean-to conservatories are a great choice if you’re limited on space – characterised by their sloped roofs, which allow them to be built against the side of a house, they are an excellent choice for saving space as well as money as the costs can be much lower.
Livin Roof Conservatories
For those who want a dream conservatory with a modern look and feel, Livin roof conservatories provide the best mix of glass and solid roof providing a bright and gorgeous looking room that allows you to use the space inside the conservatory as an outdoor living area.
Tiled Roof Conservatory
A conservatory of this sort is similar to an extension with a tiled roof rather than a glass roof. Tiled roof conservatories are perfect for those who want a traditional look for their conservatory, giving them a classic look that compliments the style of the property, perfect for any home.
Orangery
An orangery is a hybrid design halfway between a conservatory and a small extension that incorporates features of both. They generally have more brickwork than a conventional conservatory and have a deeper foundations.
Orangeries may be covered with a semi-solid roof or entirely tiled. They may also have a glass lantern in the centre, skylights or a completely tiled roof.
What are the benefits of a new conservatory? The top 10 listed.
Whether you want to use it as a family room, a home office, or a place to relax and enjoy the view, a conservatory can be the perfect addition to your home. Here are ten benefits of adding a new conservatory to your home:
1. Added Living Space
Adding a conservatory to your home is one of the easiest and most cost-efficient ways to add more living space to your home. A conservatory will give you an extra room that can be used for anything you want, without taking up too much garden space and at a fraction of the cost of a full extension.
2. Increased Home Value
A conservatory is also a great way to increase the value of your home. If you ever decide to sell your home, a conservatory can be a significant selling point and may increase the value of your home by up to 15%.
3. Increased Natural Light
There’s nothing better than feeling the warming sun on your skin, especially on a cold winter’s day. With a conservatory, you can bring the outdoors indoors and enjoy natural light, whatever the time of year. Brighten your home and lighten your mood at the same time!
4. More Energy Efficiency
A conservatory can also help improve the energy efficiency of your home. By adding an extra room to your home, you can help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. And with UV protecting materials you and your furniture can enjoy the benefits of the sun without the downside.
5. Added Functionality
A conservatory can provide great additional functionality to your home. With a conservatory, you can turn an outdoor area into a usable indoor space that enhances your lifestyle, however, that may be!
6. Increased Home Comfort
A well-designed conservatory can also help increase the comfort level of your home. By adding an extra room to your home, you can help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
7. Boosted Kerb Appeal
Adding a conservatory can also give your home boosted aesthetic appeal. A well-designed and manufactured conservatory is a great addition to any home and probably second to the additional living space is the added look of a beautiful new conservatory. And not only for you and your family living with your new indoor space, you’ll also be the envy of the neighbourhood!
8. Bringing the house and the garden together
Whether you’re an avid gardener or casual summer-time grass cutter, there’s no denying the benefits of bringing the house and garden together. With a conservatory, you can enjoy the beauty of your garden all year round and have a place to relax, escape the daily grind and admire your green-fingered pursuits, or just your stripey lawn!
9. More cost-effective than moving home
If you are in need of more space or a room but don’t want to go through the upheaval and cost of moving home, a conservatory is a perfect solution. Adding a conservatory to your home is a fraction of the cost of moving, and you get all the benefits of added living space with little to no disruption to your family life.
10. A healthy option
You can expand your conservatory to make more living space, reducing stress in your home. You’ll receive more natural light, which is always beneficial and it will combine the garden and house together, creating a more pleasant living environment. Overall, it will make your home a healthier and happier place to live.
Conservatories: Things to Consider
If you’re not sure whether a conservatory is a suitable choice for your home, here are a few things to think about:
Will it be primarily used as a garden room for pets and growing plants?
A basic conservatory that may be accessed via an existing door from your house is likely to fulfil your demands.
Do you want a room where you can sit and read, work at a computer or watch TV?
If the answer is yes, you’ll need a conservatory with plenty of space and if a screen is to be used, conservatory blinds or curtains are a must-have option.
What doors or windows will best suit your new conservatory?
This will depend upon the style and construction of your new conservatory, plus your personal preference. Most conservatories feature windows and french doors or bi-fold doors or sliding patio doors to provide great views into your garden and let plenty of light in. Your conservatory installer can provide detailed specifications and samples to help you decide.
Do you want to use your conservatory all year round?
If you do, it’ll need to be sufficiently insulated with double or triple glazing on the windows and doors plus the floor will need to be well insulated. You might also want to consider having air conditioning installed for the really hot summers and heating (underfloor heating’s always a nice touch in a conservatory!) for those chilly winter evenings.
Is it the ‘wow’ factor you’re after?
Orangeries can be breathtaking, they have some spectacular features such as lantern-shaped roofs. But you will pay for this additional ‘wow’ factor to your home as they are definitely leaning toward the higher end of the cost spectrum. But then, if that’s where you’re at there’s little limit to what you can have – why not bring a swimming pool inside and take your wow factor to the next level.
Do you need planning permission for a conservatory?
A modern conservatory is most of the time labeled a “permitted development.” This implies that you don’t need permission to construct them unless they break any allowed development rules. You can check the details at the planningportal.co.uk.
If you’re adding a conservatory onto an existing home and it doesn’t qualify as permitted development, you’ll need planning permission. If this is the case, we’ll handle everything for you.
Conservatory materials
There are a few things to think about when choosing the materials for your conservatory. What your conservatory is constructed of will influence the cost, how it looks and how easy it is to maintain.
A common complaint about conservatories is the therefore you should consider the materials carefully. Choosing the wrong materials can result in a conservatory that’s either too hot or too cold.
Conservatory walls
Some conservatories have only glass walls and no brick walls. These classic conservatories rely on the insulation of the roof and floor to keep the heat in or out. This might be a good option if you live in a hot climate, but you may want to consider a conservatory with brick walls to combat colder winter days and nights.
Floor-to-ceiling windows all-around your new conservatory might make it seem like a greenhouse. However, it can also be too hot or chilly, depending on the season. Adding more brickwork to your conservatory will also give it a more integrated look.
Conservatory roof
There are three main types of conservatory roofs: glass, solid, and tiled. The most common type of conservatory roof is glass because it lets in the most light. Solid roofs are less common but are a good choice if you want to use your conservatory throughout the year as they can be warmer. Finally, tiled roofs are the least common but can give your conservatory a more contemporary look. A combination of roof type can also work really well depending on the design.
Glass roofs
A glass roof is the most popular type of conservatory roof because it lets in the most light. It’s also the easiest to maintain because you don’t have to worry about replacing tiles. Glass roofs can be made from clear or tinted glass.
Tinted glass will help keep your conservatory cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. It will also reduce the amount of UV rays that enter the room, which can help protect your furniture from fading.
A significant difference in U values exists between glazing, as there are many different types of glass. For example, the U-value of a typical double-glazed panel is about 3 W/m2k, and the same is around 0.4 W/m2k for a triple-glazed panel filled with Xenon cavities and Low-E coatings.
Solid roofs
A solid roof is a good choice if you want to use your conservatory all year round because it will help keep the temperature inside the room more consistent. Solid roofs are usually made from either wood or metal.
Wooden roofs are popular type of solid roof because they’re more aesthetically pleasing than metal roofs. They’re also easier to insulate, which will help keep your conservatory warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Metal roofs are less popular than wooden roofs because they’re not as aesthetically pleasing although they’re more durable and require less maintenance.
Tiled roofs
A tiled roof is the least common type of conservatory roof, but it can give your conservatory a more traditional look. Tiled roofs are usually made from either clay or concrete.
Clay tiles are the most popular type of tile because they’re more aesthetically pleasing than concrete tiles. They’re also more durable and require less maintenance.
Concrete tiles are less popular than clay tiles because they’re not as aesthetically pleasing. However, they’re cheaper and easier to install.
Size
The size of your new conservatory will ultimately be determined by the amount of space you have available, plus your budget, and how you plan to use the room.
Other considerations when choosing the size of your conservatory to keep in mind are that the bigger the room is, the more expensive it will be to keep warm and keep cool. If you’re not sure how much space you need, or how much it will cost to heat, consult with your professional – they know much more than just how to build conservatories!
Windows
The windows of your conservatory are a vital part of its design. Not only do they let in light and allow you to enjoy your garden, but they are also probably the biggest contributing factor to the look of the conservatory.
There are three main types of windows: hinged, sliding, and tilt and turn. Hinged windows open outwards and are the most common type of window. Sliding windows open by sliding horizontally along the track. Finally, tilt and turn windows open by tilting inwards at the top and then rotating horizontally.
Which type of window is best for your conservatory will depend on the size and shape of the room. Hinged windows are good for rectangular rooms, while sliding windows are suitable for square rooms. Tilt and turn windows are a good choice for circular rooms.
Location
The location of your conservatory is another essential factor to consider when designing it. Obviously, it is best to place your conservatory in a sunny spot to take advantage of the natural light but this may not be possible due to many reasons, one of which could be planning.
If you don’t have a lot of space available, a lean-to conservatory may be the best solution.
But whatever style or size of conservatory you have, south-facing will ensure you get the most amount of light throughout the day.
Material
The material of your conservatory is another critical factor to consider when designing it. The most popular materials are glass, wood, metal, and PVC.
A conservatory usually has a glass roof or a solid conservatory roof, and it frequently includes special windows, french doors, bi-fold doors, or sliding patio doors to provide a light and airy feeling with great views.
Wood is a good choice if you want a more traditional look for your conservatory. Metal is a good choice if you want a more modern look. Finally, uPVC conservatories are the cheapest option, but it’s not as durable as glass or wood.
Design
There are many different styles, colours and finishes to choose from when choosing your perfect conservatory. You’ll need to choose a style that compliments the style of your house, or alternately make a statement with a contemporary look against a period house – there is more than one way to get that ‘wow’ factor.
Final thoughts on home conservatories
Adding a conservatory to your home is a big decision, but it can be a great way to add value to your property, increase the comfort of your home and add functionality.
If you’re not sure whether a conservatory is suitable for you, come down to GAP Home Improvements and check out the vast range we have on display – we’d love to talk through how we can help you achieve your dream home!
Improve your home with the Benefits of a New Conservatory from GAP Home Improvements
At GAP Home Improvements, we offer a wide range of conservatories to meet your needs. We have a team of experienced professionals who will work with you to create a functional and stylish space. Contact us today for a free quote!
